Configuring Time-Based Services for Wireless Network Profiles

HPE Aruba Networking Central allows you to configure the availability of a WLAN Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a 802.11 standards-based LAN that the users access through a wireless connection. SSID Service Set Identifier. SSID is a name given to a WLAN and is used by the client to access a WLAN network. at a particular time of the day. You can now create a time range profile and assign it to a WLAN SSID, so that you can enable or disable access to the SSID and thus control user access to the network during a specific time period.

Instant Access Points (IAPs) support the configuration of both absolute and periodic time range profiles. You can configure an absolute time range profile to execute during a specific time frame, or create a periodic profile to execute at regular intervals based on the periodicity specified in the configuration.

This section describes the following topics:

Before You Begin

Before you configure time-based services, ensure that the NTP Network Time Protocol. NTP is a protocol for synchronizing the clocks of computers over a network. server connection is active.

Creating a Time Range Profile

To create a time range profile, complete the following steps:

  1. In the WebUI, set the filter to a group containing at least one AP.

    The dashboard context for the group is displayed.

  2. Under Manage, click Devices > Access Points.

    A list of APs is displayed in the List view.

  3. Click the Config icon.

    The tabs to configure the APs are displayed.

  4. Click Show Advanced.
  5. Click the System tab.

    The System page is displayed.

  6. Click the Time-Based Services accordion.
  7. Click + in the Time Based Profiles table.

    The New Profile window for creating a time range profile is displayed.

  8. Configure the parameters that are listed in the following table:

Table 1: Time Range Profile Configuration Parameters

Parameter Description

Name

Specify a name for the time range profile.

Type

Select the type of time range profile:

  • Periodic—Allows you configure a specific periodicity and recurrence pattern for a time range profile.
  • Absolute—Allows you to configure an absolute day and time range.

Repeat

Specify the frequency for the periodic time range profile:

  • Daily—Enables daily recurrence.
  • Weekly—Allows you define a specific time range with specific start and end days in a week.

Day Range

  • Absolute—For an absolute time range profile, this field allows you to specify the start day and end day, both in mm/dd/yyyy format. You can also use the calendar to specify the start and end days.
  • Periodic—For a periodic time range profile, the following Day Range options are available:
    • For daily recurrence—If the Repeat option is set to Daily, this field allows you to select the following time ranges:
      • Monday—Sunday (All Days)
      • Monday—Friday (Weekdays)
      • Saturday—Sunday (Weekend)

      For example, if you set the Repeat option to Daily and then select Monday—Friday (Weekday) for Day Range, and Start Time as 1 and End time as 2, the applied time range will be Monday to Friday from 1 am to 2 am; that is, on Monday at 3 am, the profile will not be applied or disabled.

    • For weekly occurrence—If the Repeat option is set to Weekly, this field allows you to select the start and end days of a week and time range.

      For example, if you set Start Day as Monday and End Day as Friday, and Start Time as 1 and End Time as 2, the applied time range profile is Monday 1 am to Friday 2 am every week; that is, on Monday at 3 am, the profile will be applied or enabled.

Start Time

Select the start time for the time range profile from the Hours and Minutes drop-down lists, respectively.

End Time

Select the end time for the time range profile from the Hours and Minutes drop-down lists, respectively.

Visualization Graph for Time

The Visualization graph (approximated to the hour) provides a visual display of the selected time range (Day Range, Start Time, and End Time) for periodic profiles.

Associating a Time Range Profile to an SSID

To apply a time range profile to an SSID, complete the following steps:

  1. In the WebUI, set the filter to a group containing at least one AP.

    The dashboard context for the group is displayed.

  2. Under Manage, click Devices > Access Points.

    A list of APs is displayed in the List view.

  3. Click the Config icon.

    The tabs to configure the APs are displayed.

  4. Click the WLANs tab.

    The WLANs details page is displayed.

  5. In the Wireless SSIDs table, select a network profile for which you want to apply the time range profile, and then click the edit icon. You can also add a time range profile when configuring an SSID.
  6. In General, click Time Range Profiles under Advanced Settings.
  7. In the Time Range Profiles section, enter the following information:
    • Select a time range profile from the Time Range Profile list.
    • Select a value from the Status drop-down list.
    • When a time range profile is enabled on SSID, the SSID is made available to the users for the configured time range. For example, if the specified time range is 12:00 to 13:00, the SSID becomes available only between 12 PM to 1 PM on a given day.
    • If a time range is disabled, the SSID becomes unavailable for the configured time range. For example, if configured time-range is 14:00 to 17:00, the SSID is made unavailable from 2 PM to 5 PM on a given day.
  8. Click Save.

To create a time range profile, click + New Time Range Profile. The New Profile window for creating a time range profile is displayed.

Associating a Time Range Profile to ACL

HPE Aruba Networking Central allows you to configure time-based services for specific ACL Access Control List. ACL is a common way of restricting certain types of traffic on a physical port.. To apply a time range profile to an access rule, complete the following steps:

  1. In the WebUI, set the filter to a group containing at least one AP.

    The dashboard context for the group is displayed.

  2. Under Manage, click Devices > Access Points.

    A list of APs is displayed in the List view.

  3. Click the Config icon.

    The tabs to configure the APs are displayed.

  4. Click Show Advanced.
  5. Click the Security tab.

    The Security page is displayed.

  6. In the Roles accordion, click the edit icon listed for access rules under Access Rules For Selected Roles to which you want to apply the time range profile.

    The Access Rules page is displayed.

  7. In the Options section, select the Time Range check box and select the time range profile from the drop-down list.
    • When a time range profile is associated with an ACL, the configured time range is applied on all the WLAN SSID with the specific ACL.
    • If a time range is disabled or if the time range profile is deleted for an ACL, all WLAN SSID with the specific ACL will be able to access the network without any time constraint.
  8. Click Save.

For more information on time range configuration, see the Aruba Instant User Guide.